Stephen Hawking Seen with 2 Women in New Epstein Files - Photo

The picture, taken during a 2006 scientific conference in the Virgin Islands, has once again become a focal point in wider discussions about the figures named in the newly released documents. As debate intensifies, you can view the photograph at the end of this article.

A photograph showing Professor Stephen Hawking smiling as he relaxed on a sun lounger with a red cocktail in hand has re-emerged after being included in the latest tranche of files released by the United States Department of Justice as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

The image, which appears to have been taken on a tropical island, shows Hawking seated between two women in bikinis who are also holding drinks. Although the photograph had circulated online in previous years, its appearance in the newly disclosed documents reignited scrutiny and online debate.

In response, Hawking's family issued a firm statement pushing back against what they described as insinuations about his conduct. A spokesperson for the Hawking family stressed that the celebrated physicist's legacy should not be overshadowed by speculation.

In the statement, the spokesperson said that Hawking made groundbreaking contributions to physics, adding that "any insinuation of inappropriate conduct on his part is wrong and far-fetched in the extreme."

According to the family, the image was taken in 2006 during a scientific conference at the five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel in St Thomas. Hawking had travelled to the Virgin Islands to deliver a lecture on quantum cosmology at an event titled "Energy of Empty Space That Isn't Zero."

The gathering brought together 21 scientists, who reportedly spent time both on St Thomas and on Little Saint James, the private island owned by Epstein.

At the time, a blog post published by the Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation stated that guests had convened to "discuss, relax on the beach, and take a trip to the nearby private island retreat of the science philanthropist Jeffrey Epstein, who funded the event."

The conference took place five months before Epstein was charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The family further clarified that the two women pictured alongside Hawking were his long-term carers from the United Kingdom. Hawking, who died in 2018 aged 76, had lived with motor neurone disease for more than 50 years and required round-the-clock assistance.

Meanwhile, despite being referenced more than 250 times across more than 3.5 million pages of documents, Hawking has never been photographed with Epstein. Furthermore, his name's appearance in the files does not, in itself, indicate wrongdoing.

Still, Hawking had previously appeared in two other images linked to the Epstein estate. One photograph, which surfaced in 2015, showed him dining outdoors with a group, including his carers.

Another captured him taking part in a submarine tour of the seabed near Little Saint James. Epstein was reported to have modified the vessel to accommodate Hawking's wheelchair.

Beyond the photographs, renewed attention has focused on historical correspondence. In a 2015 email sent to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein offered a financial incentive to to anyone who could help disprove an allegation referenced in connection with Virginia Giuffre that Hawking had participated in a sexual encounter involving minors in the Virgin Islands.

There is no public record of Giuffre making such an accusation about Hawking before her death last year, and Epstein's message is the only documented reference to the claim.

Separately, a tip received by the FBI in 2019 and later released by the Department of Justice alleged that Epstein and Hawking attended an "all-male" club together in 2011. The claim has not been substantiated.

As discussion intensified online, reactions ranged from staunch defence to pointed scepticism. Some netizens argued that the image was being mischaracterised, with one person commenting, "Give me a break. That's [sic] poor guy couldn't do ANYTHING. I think it's nice those girls hung around the guy."

Others questioned the broader context of visits to the island. One commenter described the response as "hilarious," arguing that while others who visited the island are labelled disgraceful, the tone shifts when it concerns Hawking.

The same person maintained that if the physicist were viewed as innocent because it was merely a holiday, then the same standard should apply to others who travelled there.

There were also comments casting doubt on reputations. "There's a lot we don't know about people. Maybe it's time to reevaluate those we hold in high regard," one commenter shared. Another typed, "Never ends, get weirder and weirder."

Scepticism also surfaced around his care arrangements. "Where were his carers and welfare guardians?" one person asked. "Carers … honestly these stories lately !!! When do you see any normal carers drinking and in bikinis 🫠🤣 More like his family don't want his legacy ruined [sic]," another doubter shared.

The commenter went on to suggest more revelations could follow and accused wealthy figures of believing they are untouchable. A final person added, "Awkward thing is Virginia Guiffre [sic] said Hawking got up to bad stuff. It's turned out so far she hasn't lied about anything."

The debate underscores the sensitivity surrounding the release of the documents and the reputational impact on individuals named within them. Inclusion in the files is not evidence of criminal conduct, and no charges have ever been brought against Hawking in connection with Jeffrey Epstein.